Population Health Analytics: Using NHS Digital Data for PCN Planning

• 20th July 2026
• Clinically reviewed by: Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres

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• What NHS data sources should PCNs use for service planning?
• How to turn population health insights into action
• Why is prescribing analysis critical for medicines optimisation?
• Understanding the limitations of national datasets

Primary Care Networks have access to more health data than ever before, but having data isn’t the same as knowing how to use it. Although NHS Digital is now part of NHS England, the term “NHS Digital data” is still widely used to describe many of the national datasets and resources available to Primary Care Networks. National resources such as Fingertips, National General Practice Profiles, and ePACT2 can help PCNs understand local demographics, identify health inequalities, and prioritise clinical services. When combined with practice-level information, population health analytics supports more informed strategic planning. Integrating technology in health solutions further enhances this capability.

• National datasets drive strategy: Tools like Fingertips and ePACT2 provide the baseline for identifying local health inequalities and clinical needs.
• QOF prevalence matters: Comparing local disease prevalence against national averages may indicate potential under-diagnosis, coding variation, or differences in local demographics.
• Data-led pharmacy deployment: Clinical Pharmacists can use prescribing insights to prioritise structured medication reviews for high-risk cohorts.
• Strategic workforce planning: Understanding local demographics enables PCNs and Practices to deploy the right Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) staff to the right areas.

What NHS data sources should PCNs use for service planning?

Effective population health management relies on reliable national and local healthcare data. PCNs should utilise combined national and regional datasets to build a comprehensive picture of their patient cohorts. Selecting the right population health management tools from the outset makes this process significantly more efficient.

NHS Dataset or Tool	Primary Use
National General Practice Profiles	Benchmarking practices
Fingertips	Population indicators
ePACT2	Prescribing analysis
QOF	Disease prevalence
Registered Patients	Demographics
Core20PLUS5	Health inequalities

Key sources include the National General Practice Profiles available via Fingertips. These profiles offer crucial insights into local demography, Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) achievements, and patient satisfaction. Using digital health technologies to interrogate this data helps PCNs move from descriptive reporting to actionable clinical insights.

Additionally, leveraging NHS prescribing data through platforms like ePACT2 is vital. It allows PCNs to monitor prescribing trends, identify safety issues, and optimise medication use across the network. Integrating these datasets with local GP practice population data forms the foundation of robust data-led planning.

How to turn population health insights into action

Knowing what data exists is only the first step. To translate healthcare analytics into tangible patient benefits, PCNs need a structured approach to population health analytics. A typical workflow might look like this:

1. Review your registered population demographics.
2. Compare QOF prevalence with national averages.
3. Explore Fingertips indicators for health inequalities.
4. Review prescribing variation in ePACT2.
5. Identify high-risk patient cohorts.
6. Validate findings in local clinical systems such as EMIS or SystmOne.
7. Deploy clinical pharmacy teams for targeted interventions.
8. Measure outcomes and adjust the strategy.

This structured primary care needs assessment enables PCNs to pinpoint specific health inequalities and tailor clinical services accordingly. Conducting a thorough primary care needs assessment at the outset ensures the workflow above is grounded in local evidence rather than assumptions. If data reveals a higher-than-average prevalence of respiratory conditions, the PCN can strategically deploy their Clinical Pharmacist Support Service to focus on asthma and COPD management. Population needs assessments should be reviewed regularly as local demographics, disease prevalence, and service demand change over time. A well-maintained population needs assessment also supports alignment with ICB priorities and the wider NHS planning cycle.

Expert insight from Adeem Azhar, qualified Clinical Pharmacist and CEO

Good data doesn’t improve patient care on its own. The real value comes from turning population insights into practical clinical action. That means identifying priorities, deploying the right workforce with the appropriate clinical skill sets, and measuring whether interventions genuinely improve outcomes.

Adeem Azhar, MPharm, IPres
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer – Core Prescribing Solutions
Qualified Clinical Pharmacist

Understanding the limitations of national datasets

While national NHS datasets are powerful population health management tools, they must be interpreted with caution. Relying solely on technology in health without clinical context can be risky. Data can sometimes mislead if taken purely at face value. Choosing the right population health management tools is only part of the challenge; knowing how to apply them critically is equally important.

For instance, recorded prevalence isn’t always true prevalence; an area might appear to have low rates of a disease simply because it is under-diagnosed. Similarly, older populations naturally have more disease, meaning raw numbers must be adjusted for age. Coding varies significantly between practices, and small populations can create statistical variation that looks like a trend but is actually noise. Benchmarking needs context to be meaningful.

Data should support clinical judgement rather than replace it. The most effective population health planning combines national datasets with local knowledge from clinicians, practice teams, and patients. Technology in health can accelerate this process, but it works best when guided by experienced clinicians who understand the local context.

Why is prescribing analysis critical for medicines optimisation?

Prescribing data is one of the most actionable national datasets available to PCNs and Practices because it helps identify unwarranted variation, prioritise medicines optimisation, and monitor the impact of interventions over time. Advances in technology in health have made it easier than ever to access and interpret this data at scale. By reviewing ePACT2 data, Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians can identify patterns of over-prescribing, monitor adherence to local formularies, and highlight patients at risk of polypharmacy complications.

This approach supports effective risk stratification in primary care. Access to NHS prescribing data ensures these efforts are accurate. Reviewing NHS prescribing data regularly allows pharmacy teams to track whether interventions are having the intended effect and proactively identify patients who would benefit most from structured medication reviews. Utilising these insights ensures clinical interventions are targeted and efficient, ultimately enhancing Medicines Optimisation.

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